Bakersfield Waste Water Treatment Plant

At the southern-most stretch of Mt. Vernon Avenue, south of Highway 58, lies the Bakersfield Wastewater Treatment Plant. The ponds are extensive. Just inside the gate are the settling ponds which seem to attract most of the shorebirds. Least Sandpipers are ever-present, along with a few Black-necked Stilts. Yellowlegs of both varieties have occured here, but most are Greater and virtually all the winter sightings are of Greater. But at various times, we have discovered Pectoral Sandpipers, a Ruff, Dunlins, a Marbled Godwit, Solitary and Baird's Sandpipers, and Semipalmated Plovers. Western Sandpipers join the Leasts in spring and through the summer. A few may linger through winter. Spotted Sandpipers are uncommon, but regular. American Avocets join the stilts in spring and summer, as well. We've often found White-faced Ibis along the levees separating the settling ponds, as well as in the larger, deeper ponds to the north. Both Dowitchers are common in migration and may occur in all months. Beyond the settling ponds, these larger ponds host thousands of waterfowl all winter. Northern Shovelers, Eared Grebes, Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, Gadwalls, and American Coots are most common. Fewer American Wigeons and Lesser Scaups are intermingled with a few Canvasbacks, most days. Western and Clark's Grebes are frequent winter visitors. Periodically, American White Pelicans, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and Greater White-fronted Geese drop in. Cackling and Ross' Geese are quite rare. A Tundra Swan appeared in the winter of 2006 and rarely, a Eurasian Wigeon is spotted among the Americans. Teal are represented by Cinnamons and a few Green-wingeds. Buffleheads are common, and Ring-necked Ducks range from uncommon to very common. Also during both migrations, Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes can become abundant.
Waders are represented by Cattle Egrets and Great Egrets, for the most part. Fewer Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets occur regularly. Red-tailed Hawks are common, often perched on the ground on the levees. Golden Eagles are regular. We've encountered Ferruginous Hawks here, as well. But they're uncommon, at best. American Kestrels, Merlins, and Peregrine Falcons are periodic visitors and a Ferruginous Hawk was spotted during the winter of 2007-08. All five swallow species are seen over the ponds. In winter, a few Barn Swallows remain. Tree and Violet-green Swallows also occur, rarely in winter, but commonly in every other season. Cliffs and Rough-wingeds are mostly absent in winter, but occur in all other seasons. The only gulls I've seen at the Sewer Ponds are Ring-billed and California with an occasional Herring. Caspian Terns fly over, occasionally. Ravens and crows are nearly always around. Red-winged Blackbirds far outnumber Tri-colored, but both have been seen.
Burrowing Owls are resident along the levees. And on the east side of Mt. Vernon Ave., there are often thousands of Brewer's Blackbirds and European Starlings on the piles of mulch being created at the green waste facility. An occasional Great-tailed Grackle may make an appearance anywhere in the area.
April 13, 2008
Today's visit - the only good birds were the two MARBLED GODWITS. 19 White-faced Ibis were along the bank of one of the big ponds. Still LOTS of ducks, but nothing unusual. The peeps were all Leasts.
August 5, 2008
A short visit this morning resulted in at least two Baird's Sandpipers and a single Semi-palmated Plover. There were about 35 Least Sandpipers. Didn't have time to do the big ponds.
August, 2008
Repeated visits from the 7th through the 17th of August revealed very high numbers of shorebirds, dominated by Long-billed Dowitchers. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are common. A few California Gulls and several Caspian Terns dotted a sandbar on the second pond on the east side of Mount Vernon. On August 16th, I found seven Common Terns, a first for the ponds and my first for Kern County. Least and Western Sandpipers continue in fair numbers, and at least one Baird's was present each visit (up to four). Two different Marbled Godwits were present for at least four days. Long-billed Curlews are around, as well as White-faced Ibises. Duck numbers are increasing, but they are in eclipse plumage, so I haven't even tried to id any of them. Both Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes continue in numbers.
August 24, 2008
There are still lots of dowitchers at the ponds. Numbers of Western Sandpipers have increased. Leasts are still plentiful. Two Marbled Godwits continue - at least, I assume they're the same birds. 21 Caspian Terns is the highest total I've seen. Still no rarities in 2008.
September 13, 2008
Today's trip, with Kern Audubon, was uneventful. Two Marbled Godwits were the only really notable birds. We had a single Baird's Sandpiper. Frankly - boooooring.
September 14, 2008
A Pectoral Sandpiper appeared this morning. This is 13 days later than last year.